When you see what Apple is actually guiding for EPS, it makes sense it didn't want to just spell it out.

This is relatively horrible guidance. Piecyk notes that it would be a 17% drop year over year at the high end, and a 25% drop year over year on the low end.

For some context, in the March quarter of 2012, Apple's EPS growth was 92% on a year-over-year basis. The reason EPS growth was so strong last year was that Apple released the iPhone 4S in China during the quarter.

This year, the iPhone 5 will have already been in China for a few weeks, thus limiting its sales. Also, Apple now sells the iPad Mini which makes less money than the bigger iPad.